What is agritourism?

You’re hearing more and more about agritourism. But what is it really? Why is it important, and what are the benefits?

Agritourism, or agrotourism as it is sometimes called, is a form of tourism whose aim is to discover the agricultural know-how of a region, and by extension, the landscapes, social practices and culinary specialties associated with agriculture. Agritourism encompassesaccommodation and catering services, as well as activities such as educational farms that enable visitors to discover the rural environment .

More and more popular since the health crisis, this type of tourism is in full swing, as we increasingly need a return to nature and authenticity. The issue of eating well is also important here, as knowing what we eat and where our produce comes from is becoming increasingly important in society.

The advantages of agritourism are many:

• Back to basics: back to the way things used to be, life in the great outdoors with animals.
• A stronger link with producers: with supermarkets, it’s easy to forget where the products we eat come from, and the work that goes into each one.
• Environmental awareness: you’ll see vast expanses of grass and animals, and how can we not be aware of our impact on it all?

What’s more, if you have children, it’s an opportunity to show them the farm animals and teach them where the food they eat comes from. You’ll make them more aware of animal welfare, and above all, you’ll hear them laugh out loud at the cows or sheep grazing! Last but not least, a farm vacation boosts therural economy and provides additional income for farmers! And that’s not to be underestimated.

So, when will we see you back at the farm?

If you’d like to learn more about the other types of tourism that have developed during the health crisis, take a look at our article on “local tourism“.